Phase 1 of The Press, an adaptive reuse project that is converting an old Los Angeles Times facility into a modern office campus, was recently completed in Costa Mesa, Calif. The project is retaining most of the existing, 450,000 sf structure, and converting it into an expansive creative campus with contemporary office space.
A strategy of “selective subtraction” was utilized throughout the project to introduce daylight, fresh air, and views, according to a news release from Del Amo Construction, the project’s general contractor. This strategy included removal of roof panels and covering walls to expose the underlying skeletal structure. Elements such as canopies and monolithic concrete walls are a nod to the former production space—an active newsroom and printing plant that operated from 1968 to 2010 and was decommissioned in 2014.
The design by Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects (EYRC) aims to preserve the integrity of the original site while bringing it up to today’s health, safety and building code standards. Challenges included significant remediation from ink and fuel tanks found on site, as well as ensuring the property was compliant with current ADA requirements.
“The Press is a human-scaled, creative campus with a rich history, positioned at the heart of Orange County’s newly energized business corridor,” said EYRC Partner Patricia Rhee, FAIA. “It’s so exciting to see the transformation of The Press and how it’s signaling a new life for this massive industrial complex—its emergence from years of disrepair.”
All aspects of the core and shell revitalization are now completed. Ongoing work will add new structures including a parking garage and R&D building. The remaining structures of the multi-phased project are scheduled to be completed in early 2023.
The Press was recently leased by Anduril Industries, constituting the largest office lease in the last 15 years in Orange County.
Building Team:
Owner and/or developer: SteelWave and 5 Ronin
Design architect: Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney (EYRC)
Architect of record: Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney (EYRC)
MEP engineer: Alvine Engineering
Structural engineer: Saiful Bouquet
General contractor/construction manager: Del Amo Construction
![The Press office int 1](/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Press%20office%20int%201.jpg)
![The Press office int 2](/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Press%20office%20int%202.jpg)
![The Press office ext 2](/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Press%20office%20ext%202.jpg)
![The Press office int 3](/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20Press%20office%20int%203.jpg)
Related Stories
| Mar 12, 2014
London grows up: 236 tall buildings to be added to skyline in coming decade, says think tank
The vast majority of high-rise projects in the works are residential towers, which could help tackle the city's housing crisis, according to a new report by New London Architecture.
| Mar 12, 2014
14 new ideas for doors and door hardware
From a high-tech classroom lockdown system to an impact-resistant wide-stile door line, BD+C editors present a collection of door and door hardware innovations.
| Feb 27, 2014
Open or private offices? It depends on the business plan
Open layouts are grabbing headlines as a hallmark of the new workplace—think the Google campus or Facebook's headquarters. And for smaller-scale operations, open designs are often lauded for being less expensive than private office plans. But does that mean all offices should have an open layout?
| Feb 25, 2014
NYC's Hudson Spire would be nation's tallest tower if built
Design architect MJM + A has released an updated design scheme for the planned 1,800-foot-tall, superthin skyscraper.
| Feb 20, 2014
5 myths about cross laminated timber
A CLT expert clears up several common misconceptions and myths surrounding the use of wood as a building material.
Sponsored | | Feb 20, 2014
Chicago’s historic Wrigley Building renovated to attract tech companies
Purchased in 2011 by a consortium of investors led by BDT Capital Partners, the building’s new owners have recently renovated and reimagined the next life for this architectural landmark—as a hub for tech firms.
| Feb 20, 2014
World's longest desk? Massive, undulating desk accommodates 145 office workers [video]
The desk is built from plywood and one continuous sheet of resin, and can serve all 145 office employees at once.
| Feb 19, 2014
It's a world record! Largest uninterrupted concrete pour kicks off Wilshire Grand project
Guinness World Records verifies the concrete pour as the largest ever
| Feb 17, 2014
Developer plans to 'crowdfund' extended stay hotel in Manhattan
Want to own a piece of Manhattan hotel real estate? Developer Rodrigo Nino is inviting individual investors to put up $100,000 each for his latest project, 17 John.
| Feb 14, 2014
Crowdsourced Placemaking: How people will help shape architecture
The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.